Method and Device for Protecting an Outdoor Electronic Screen

ABSTRACT

An outdoor electronic screen protection device includes a nonhermetically sealed housing. A mounting system attaches the nonhermetically sealed housing to a wall of a structure. An access port is provided in the nonhermetically sealed housing. A non-transparent front cover is attached to the housing. A locking mechanism is attached to the nonhermetically sealed housing. The protection device does not include any active environmental control systems. When the user wishes to view the electronic screen the front cover is opened. As a result, the user does not have to look through an additional window to view the electronic screen, which causes glare. Since the housing is not hermetically sealed, it is considerably less expensive to build than previous devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It has become quite common for people to place electronic screens, including televisions in outdoor living areas. If the electronic screen is not protected it is subject to driving rain, wind, humidity, blowing sand, dust, dirt, insects, birds, and UV exposure. A number of devices have been proposed to protect electronic screens from these elements. Most of these previous devices provide a watertight or hermetically sealed housing for the electronic screen. As a result, the electronic screen is viewed through a clear cover. This adds additional glare and reduces the clarity of the image. Many of the previous devices also have elaborate systems for cooling the housing and even removing the humidity from the housing. Some of these environmental controls are active. These elaborate environment controls significantly increase the cost of these devices.

Thus there exists a need for a protection device for an electronic screen that is inexpensive and does not create an additional layer between the viewer and the screen while being used.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

An outdoor electronic screen protection device that overcomes these and other problems includes a nonhermetically sealed housing. A mounting system attaches the nonhermetically sealed housing to a wall of a structure. An access port is provided in the nonhermetically sealed housing. A non-transparent front cover is attached to the housing. A locking mechanism is attached to the nonhermetically sealed housing. The protection device does not include any active environmental control systems. When the user wishes to view the electronic screen the front cover is opened. As a result, the user does not have to look through an additional window to view the electronic screen. It is highly unlikely that a user is going to want to view the outdoor electronic screen when the weather is so inclement that a cover is needed to protect the electronic screen. Since the housing is not hermetically sealed, it is considerably less expensive to build than previous devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a house with an outdoor electronic screen and the protection device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of an outdoor electronic screen protection device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an outdoor electronic screen protection device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; m FIG. 4 is a side view of an outdoor electronic screen protection device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of an outdoor electronic screen protection device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of the steps in a method of protecting an outdoor electronic screen in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An outdoor electronic screen protection device includes a nonhermetically sealed housing. A mounting system attaches the nonhermetically sealed housing to a wall of a structure. An access port is provided in the nonhermetically sealed housing. A non-transparent front cover is attached to the housing. A locking mechanism is attached to the nonhermetically sealed housing. The protection device does not include any active environmental control systems. When the user wishes to view the electronic screen the front cover is opened. As a result, the user does not have to look through an additional window to view the electronic screen. It is highly unlikely that a user is going to want to view the outdoor electronic screen when the weather is so inclement that a cover is needed to protect the electronic screen. Since the housing is not hermetically sealed, it is considerably less expensive to build than previous devices.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a house 10 with an outdoor electronic screen and the protection device 12 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. A common use for an outdoor electronic screen protection device 12 is to protect an outdoor television from the elements. This figure shows the device 12 under an outdoor porch, which serves as an outdoor family room.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of an outdoor electronic screen protection device 12 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The device has a housing 14. While the housing is shown a rectangular box, the invention is not limited to any particular shape. The housing 14 is not hermetically sealed, which is why the device is generally mounted under an overhanging roof, such as an outdoor porch. A front face 16 is a roll top structure in this embodiment. The front face 16 is not transparent. The user rolls up the front face when they want to view the electronic screen 18. The front face 16 latches when closed to latch and lock 20. The invention contemplates having either a latch or a lock or both (or neither) for the front face 16. The electronic screen 18 rests on a lower wall 22. An access port 24 allows easy access for cables to the cable jacks 25 of the electronic screen and for power cords. A mounting system 26 is attached to the housing 14. In one embodiment, the mounting system 26 is a wall bracket 28, which may be attached to a wall of a structure using a suitable attachment device such as a screw 30. A housing bracket 32 engages the wall bracket 28 and is held in place by gravity. Other mounting systems are also contemplated within the scope of the invention. For instance, the wall bracket could be screwed or bolted to the housing 14. Those skilled in the art are aware of many other mounting systems. All such systems are within the scope of the present invention. In one embodiment, the protection device may have a locking mechanism 34 that locks the electronic screen 18 to the housing 14. A lock housing 36 is permanently affixed to the electronic screen 18. A lock finger 38 having a flange is inserted through a hole in the housing 18 into the lock housing 36. The flange is larger than the hole in the housing 18 so that when the locking mechanism 34 is locked, the electronic screen 18 is locked to the housing 14. This locking mechanism could be mounted to the bottom, sides, or top of the electronic screen 18 also.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an outdoor electronic screen protection device 50 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, some of the walls of the housing 52 are not solid or rigid walls, but flexible walls. In this embodiment the top wall 54, front face 60 and the side walls 56, 58 are all replaced with flexible material. In one embodiment, the flexible walls may be a fabric or they may be a plastic. This significantly reduces the cost of manufacturing the outdoor electronic screen protection device. Note that one of more of the walls 54, 54, 60 with flexible material may include a rigid frame 62. The rigid frame 62 may be made of metal, wood, or plastic. In another embodiment, all or part of the frame 62 may be discarded or replaced with somewhat flexible materials. In one embodiment, the front face 60 is attached to the housing by a zipper 61. The zipper 61 may be used to open the front face 60, which then hangs down from the housing 52 are may have straps to roll up just below the housing 52. In general, the back wall will be a rigid wall made of wood or plastic. However, in some embodiments, the housing does not contain a back wall. The lower wall or floor 64 is generally a rigid material, since the electronic screen sits on the floor 64. However, if the electronic screen is directly mounted to the wall, a rigid lower wall (floor) may not be necessary. It is also possible that the lower wall will be dispensed with when the electronic screen is directly attached to the wall. It is apparent to those skilled in the art a back wall may not be necessary when the electronic screen is directly attached to the wall.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an outdoor electronic screen protection device 70 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the device has a front face 72 that is attached to the housing 74 by sliding pivoting mechanism. The front face 72 slides along a roller 74 and in the open position sits over the top 76 of the housing 78. A hydraulic lift 80 holds the front face 72 in place.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an outdoor electronic screen protection device 90 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the front face 92 is held to the housing 94 by a hinge 96. A pair of slots 98, one in a side wall 100 and one in the front face 92, hold a pole 102. The pole 102 braces the front cover 92 in the up or open position. In one embodiment, a pair of poles on either side of the front face are used.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of the steps in a method of protecting an outdoor electronic screen in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The process starts, step 110, by locating a vertical wall under an overhang of a structure at step 112. Next a housing is attached to the vertical wall at step 114. A front cover is opened at step 116. An electronic screen is placed in the housing at step 118. If the electronic screen is not in use at step 120, the front cover is locked, which ends the process at step 122. If the electronic screen is in use, the front cover is lifted.

Thus there has been described a protection device for an electronic screen that is inexpensive and does not create an additional layer between the viewer and the screen while being used.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alterations, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations in the appended claims. 

1. A method of protecting an outdoor electronic screen, comprising the steps of: locating a vertical wall under an overhang; attaching a housing on the vertical wall; opening a front cover; placing an electronic screen in the housing; and if the electronic screen is not in use, locking the front cover.
 2. The method of claim 1, further including the step of: if the electronic screen is in use, lifting the front cover.
 3. The method of claim 2, further including the step of: locking the front cover in an upright position.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of locking the front cover includes placing a brace between the housing and the front cover.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of locking the front cover includes pivoting and translating the front cover so a portion sits adjacent to a top cover of the housing.
 6. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of lifting the front cover includes the step selecting a hydraulic lift.
 7. An outdoor electronic screen protection device, comprising: a nonhermetically sealed housing; a mounting system for attaching the nonhermetically housing to a wall of a structure; an access port in the nonhermetically sealed housing; a non-transparent front cover attached to the nonhermetically housing; and a locking mechanism attached to the nonhermetically sealed housing, wherein the protection device does not include any active environmental control systems.
 8. The device of claim 7, wherein a wall of the nonhermetically sealed housing is made of fabric.
 9. The device of claim 7, wherein a wall of the nonhermetically sealed housing is made of plastic.
 10. The device of claim 7, wherein a wall of the nonhermetically sealed housing is made of a flexible material, with a rigid frame.
 11. The device of claim 7, wherein the non-transparent front cover of the nonhermetically sealed housing is a roll top structure.
 12. The device of claim 7, wherein the locking mechanism locks the non-transparent front cover to the nonhermetically sealed housing.
 13. The device of claim 7, wherein the locking mechanism locks electronic screen to a wall of the nonhermetically sealed housing.
 14. An outdoor electronic screen protection device, comprising: a housing; a roll top front cover attached to the housing; a latching mechanism for holding the housing to the roll top front cover; and a mounting mechanism attached to the housing for mounting the housing to a wall.
 15. The device of claim 14, wherein the roll top front cover is made of a flexible material.
 16. The device of claim 15, wherein the flexible material is a cloth.
 17. The device of claim 15, wherein the flexible material is a plastic.
 18. The device of claim 14, further including a locking mechanism attached to the housing. 